What did the 2026 Graduating Class Pick?

According to Commonapp.org, the 2026 graduating class of seniors picked the following topics:

1. Topic of your choice: 28%

2. Facing adversity: 23%

3. Personal growth: 20%

4. Background, identity, interest, or talent: 18%

5. Intellectual curiosity: 5%

6. Gratitude: 3%

7. Challenging an idea: 3%

As you can see, many seniors do pick the open topic. This is not “giving up” on a topic, but instead allows you the freedom to explore all aspects of your identity and experience fully. Colleges want to see the real you, and sometimes that doesn’t fit in a specific prompt.

Use the other prompts to pique your curiosity. Read them all. Then, forget about them and write what you want, what your heart most desires to write about, and what you feel called to explore through writing. This is your story and your journey!

You will return to these prompts at the end of the writing process and pick the prompt that best fits your essay. It’s your choice. Be open to exploring all options!